Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging is a rapidly emerging biomedical research in diagnostics and therapeutic fields due to
current indispensable tools in modern diagnostics.[1] Various imaging modalities (Table 1) are currently
employed in the field of molecular imaging either individually or in hybrid in order to optimize their
resolution and sensitivity [2]. As portrayed in figure 1, each modality utilizes different energy to generate
the image and thus offers different spatial, temporal resolution and sensitivity.

Table 1: Characteristics of various imaging modalities

Imaging Technique Spatial Depth Temporal Sensitivity Molecular Amount of

resolution resolution Probe used Molecular
Probe used
-11 -12
Positron emission 1-2mm no 10 sec to 10 -10 radiolabeled, nanograms
tomography (PET) limit minutes mole/L direct or
indirect
Single photon emission 1-2 mm no minutes 10-10-10-11 radiolabeled, nanograms
computed tomography limit mole/L direct or
(SPECT) indirect
Optical bioluminescence 3-5 mm 1-2 cm seconds to 10-15-10-17 activatable, micrograms to
imaging minutes mole/La indirect milligrams
Optical fluorescence 2-3 mm <1 seconds to 10-9-10-12 activatable, micrograms to
imaging cmb minutes mole/La direct or milligrams
indirect
Magnetic resonance 25-100 no minutes to 10-3-10-5 activatable, micrograms to
imaging (MRI) mm limit hours mole/L direct or milligrams
indirect
Computed tomography 50-200 no minutes not well not applicable
(CT) mm limit characterized
Ultrasound 50-500 mm to seconds to not well limited micrograms to
mm cm minutes characterized activatable, milligrams
direct
a
Not well characterized; bThis depth applies to reflectance fluorescence. Fluorescence tomography can likely image
objects at greater depths (2–6 cm); c

Definitions:
Spatial resolution is a measure of the accuracy or detail of graphic display in the images expressed in
millimeters. It is the minimum distance between two independently measured objects that can be
distinguished separately. It is a measure of how fine the image is.

Temporal resolution is the frequency at which the final interpretable version of images can be
recorded/ captured from the subject once the imaging process is initiated. This relates to the time
required to collect enough events to form an image, and to the responsiveness of the imaging system to
rates of any change induced by the operator or in the biological system at hand.

Sensitivity, the ability to detect a molecular probe when it is present, relative to the background,
measured in moles per liter.
Figure 1: The electromagnetic spectrum showing energy expended for image generation

Molecular imaging is currently being sought in current medicine practice in order to:

1. Develop non-invasive in vivo imaging methods that reflect specific cellular and molecular
processes such as gene therapy and protein-protein interactions
2. Monitor multiple molecular events concurrently
3. Follow trafficking and targeting cells
4. Optimize drug and gene therapy
5. Image drug effects at molecular and cellular level
6. Assess disease progression at a molecular pathological level[1]

References:

[1] J. M. Hoffman and S. S. Gambhir, Radiology 2007, 244, 39-47.

[2] P. J. Ell, Br J Radiol 2006, 79, 32-36.